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Henry Weiser (aged 13), a pupil at Trinity School, Croydon, has received a Jack Petchey Award for his outstanding contribution to charity fundraising, alongside a fellow scout from the 1st Crystal Palace Scout Group.

Henry and David Blawat chose to support the Wonder Years Centre of Excellence (WYCE) charity in The Gambia. The charity provides education, health care and skills training for the local community in Madina Salaam. They had a target of £5,000 to raise over twelve months.

Over nine months the scouts organised a number of fundraising activities including washing golf clubs, packing supermarket bags and a sponsored bike ride. Together with sponsorship and gift aid they exceeded their target, raising a fantastic £9,000 for the charity.

With their contribution the charity can feed all 350 WYCE school children with a hot meal for the next two years. The money will also go towards supporting the visitor lodge, bicycle repair workshop and clinic, and will kit out 30 Gambian scouts with uniforms and basic equipment, allowing them to broaden their scouting skills.

On winning the award, Henry said: “I feel really happy to have received the award. Going to The Gambia was a life-changing experience and I’m proud that the money raised will be making a difference to the community there. I’m looking forward to returning in 2018.”

Henry was presented with his award at a ceremony in London in November 2016.